The screw Bteara clipper Durham, which reached here on Sept. 11, made a very fine run of 48 days from Plymouth. The attendance at the Exhibition on Sept. 11, exclusive of exhibitors,, was 8,186. - ?A man named George Porson bad four fingers of his hand taken off a short time ago by the cog-wheels of a winch. The Clutha Railway, in New Zealand, is now opened a dis tance of 50 miles. The Deniliquin and Mpama Railway will probably be opened on June 1 next. . '- A railway porter at Newcastle, N.S. W., was crushed to death on Sept. 13 while coupling a train. Mr John Stead, an old resident of South Australia, has died at the age of 94. Mb. Stott. one of the original proprietors of the Native Youth claim, Sieiglitz, has been thrown from bis horse and' killed. It is stated that the bookmakers netted altogether £30, 000 over the Jate Sydney races. Twknty-two inches of rain fell in South Australia to the end of August, which is the largest rainfall since 1851. - Reports state that there has b...

I have often-wondered when I have 'experienced peculiar pleasure in hearing some favourite song, or reading some exquisite piece of poetry, whether other people who heard or read what I did were affected by it in a similar manner. That many must have been is proved by the mere fact, of the popularity of the' things I most admire. That any could not have been makes one wonder at the manner in which., one's fellow-beings are ? constituted. I suppose it would no more do for every one to admire the same piece of poetry. than ft would for every one to be in love with the same woman ; but as a lover thinks that the world should go down on its knees before the object of his affection, so I think it Bhotild lend its ears, and, as the Book of Common Prayer says, 'Read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest' the beauties of my especial favourites — Milton, Shelley, Byron, Coleridge, Keats, and Tennyson. I am more tolerant with the fancies of the world regarding songs than with poetry proper. 1 can...

Madame Ristoki's performances at the Opera-house, commencing on the 28th of August, will form in themselves ? an epoch. For they have in them a certain soundness of excellence, different from all other theatrical representa tions we have had in this colony. She is not only a great actress in the sense of having made a name all over the civilised world, but she is great in that her powers will bear the closest analysis on the score of their being the highest accomplishments in art and a practical recognition of the obligations imposed by natuial models. We admire her because she never transcends the canons of art, and we are thrilled with delight because all that she does com mends itself to our sympathy and experience. It is no matter whether she apply herself to the severely classic creations of the Greek drama, the historical pictures of the Elizabethan age, the massive figures of sacred record, the picturesque studies of mediaeval times, or the more familiar characters of a conte...

**' ? i ii fur i ?!!??? ? i j **** Since our last number all the members of the Berry Administration, with the exception of the Attorney-General, who at the time of appointment did not hold a seat in Parliament, have been to their constituents and secured re-election. In only one case was there any show of opposition. At the last moment it was intimated that; Councillor Anderson, a member of the Melbourne Cor poration, would contest North Melbourne against Mr. Munro, the new Minister of Public Instruction, but a very ' brief canvass convinced him that his chances of success had been bo materially lessened by his delay in coming forward, that 'discretion was the better part of valour.' Ac cordingly he retired, promising, however, to test the con stituency on another occasion.' Parliament re-assembled for the despatch of business on Tuesday, the 7th September, when the Premier made the usual Ministerial statement. . The hon. gentleman throughout his deliverance appeared oppressed with...

BIRTHS. AGG.— On the 30th August, at Charlton, Elsternwick, the wife of Alfred J. Agg, Esq., of a son. Alston.— On the 13th ult., at Barkly-street, St. Kilda, Mrs. Thomas Alston of a daughter. MARRIAGE. BELCHER— THORNE.— On the 28th August, at Christ Church. South Yarra, &amp;nbsp; by the Rev. W.N. Guinness, Hon. G. F. Belcher, M. L. C., of Murchiston-hall, Geelong, to Frederica Bayly, eldest daughter of the late Charles Nuttall Thorne, Esq., Melbourne. DEATHS. Agg.— On the 30th August, at Charlton, Elsternwick, Gerald, the infant son of Alfred and Louisa Agg, aged 14 hours. Smith.— On the 11th ult., at Anderson-street, Emerald-hill, Henry Joseph Smith, aged 41. Tolmie.— On the 8th August, at Dunedin, William Alexander Tolmie. Winter.— On the 23rd ult., at Lauderdale, Ballarat, John Winter, aged 72 years, of apoplexy.

?JiriliKIE, WEBSTER, and ALLAN, YV IS and 16 COLLINS-STREET EAST, MELBOURNE, Invite Inspection of their Superb Stock of RAND and COTTAGE PI ANO FOBT E 8. Which comprises about 200 Instruments, Carefully Selected from, the Best; ? English, French, and German Maker*. Every Instrument ? Guaranteed, and Exchanged if ; not approved of. Secondhand ones taken in part payment, and thoir full value allowed. ?.''', Orchestral and Volunteer Instruments.' W1LKIE, WEBSTER, and ALLANS TIME-PAYMENT SYSTEM. GRAND and COTTAGE PIANOS, CABINET ORGANS and HARMONIUMS, ? Can be Purchased uudor our TIME-PA YUEN T SYS T E M, Bj 12, 18, or 24 MONTHLY INSTALMENTS, or ? V EHY LOWEST PRICES FOR CASH. WILKIE, WEBSTER, and ALLAN'S VOCAL and INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC. The Largest and most Complete Collection of STANDARD and POPULAR WORKS In the Colonies, constating of about 8,000 Separate Kongo and. Pieces, and to which all the Latect Novelties are being Constantly Added by every mail and other regular ship ments. Music...

SOCIAL ASPECTS OF THE EXHIBITION. It is quite possible that many visitors out of the thousands who. flock by day and night to th*e Exhibition look upon it as a great school of instruction. in the arts, sciences, and manu factures of our adopted land. This, indeed, is tbe ostensible reason for exhibitions being called into existence' in. modern days; and no doubt they do serve a useful purpose by enabling people to inspect at leisure the latest and most improved kinds of machinery, and the results of them, in the shape of furniture and fabrics of various kinds, 'that are exhibited in such bewildering profusion in all these shows. But for one person who goes for instruction it may be safely estimated that there are 500 who go for amusement. A town visitor to the Exhibition -,' is able to enter for the time into the feelings of enjoyment that a countryman experiences in walking through the streets of a city. .Town people cannot loiter for hours in the streets drink. , ing in the conten...

EXPLORATION OF NEW GUINEA. We have during the month, received very interesting news from two separate sources of the exploration of New Guinea, perhaps the most attractive field for the scientific explorer, that now remains on the earth's surface. On October 7 news was received from Brisbane as follows : — Mr. Macleayis a passenger for Sydney by the Singapore. Several of the ship's company are dissatisfied with the time allowed for research at New Guinea, and took their discharge here, with the intention of returning to New Guinea by the first opportunity, probably per Ellangowan, to explore, collect, and prospect. This movement has been accele rated by the news brought by Mr. Macfarlane on returning with the mission ship three weeks ago, as to the discovery of a large navigable river. The captain of the missionary: steamer Ellan gowan reports that she started from Somerset on August 25, having on board the Rev. Mr. Macfarlane, Mr. 0. C. Stone, of London (in search of Straits curios...

Madame Ristori went away from Melbourne to Sydney on the 7th of October, triumphant. She had played at the Opera-house during five weeks, and had compelled recogni tion by the very ;force of her great powers. When first she commenced, it is undoubtedly true that the houses were notgood. They did not more than half fill. But as the time went on they began to be more crowded, until at last extra seats had to be put up. This was due to the simple fact that the longer she played the more her genius was under stood. The increased attendance seemed to be due to the production of 'Marie Antoinette,' but in truth it was not so. 'Marie Antoinette,' perhaps, induced some people to attend who \ might not otherwise have done so, but it was not the itiain reason. Once, however, the Ristori performances became fashionable, everybody wanted to see them, and then they wondered why they had never gone before.: It was seen that an actreBs such as we had never previously known had come to visit us ; t...

A MINISTEBIAI. STATEMENT. flN.THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY : i '???: .A SKETCH FROM THE REPORTERS' GALLERY. ? . : . Obit, engraving illustrates a scene in the Legislative Assembly during the late crisis consequent on the defeat of the Berry Ministry. Mr. Berry and His colleagues had advised the Acting-Governor to grant a dissolution, and public meetings had been held in various places advocating the same object. The minute in which tho Ministry had. set [forth its reasons on behalf of such a course had. been handed to Sir William Stawell, and the resolutions of the various meetings had also been presented to His Excellency on Tuesday ^ October 12. The Assembly met ? at half-past 4 o'clock, and the answer of His Excellency to the minute of the Ministry had only beon handed to Mr. Berry a short time before the House met. The Chief Secretary therefore conveyed the answer of His Excellency to the House by reading the minute in which it was expressed, and it was found to refuse to grant the ...